US3557360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for illuminating the tape reels and spindle splines of tape cassettes
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
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Filing: 1968-05-31
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-05-31
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure describes an apparatus for illuminating the tape reels and the moving spindle splines of a tape cassette when the cassette is held in a tape recorder. The apparatus comprises a light bulb mounted so as to project light into a light ducting plastic glass or other transparent material. The light ducting plastic glass is mounted beneath the point where the cassette is held in the tape recorder so that light is emitted onto the reels and the moving spindle splines. In this manner, the operation of the cassette can be observed when the light is energized. The light ducting plastic glass has a diffusing surface that prevents an observer from being distracted by observing the mechanism of the tape recorder located beneath the light ducting plastic glass.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A Aldridge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:32
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; G11B25/00; G11B25/06; G11B25/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the recorder, comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a high index of refractivity for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means having an upper surface that diffuses light and a side coNfiguration that is a regular trapezoid having parallel upper and lower sides and having inclined sides, said inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward said upper side, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the recorder, comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a high index of refractivity for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means having an upper surface that diffuses light and a side coNfiguration that is a regular trapezoid having parallel upper and lower sides and having inclined sides, said inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward said upper side, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the tape recorder, comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a high index of refractivity for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means having an upper surface that diffuses light and a side configuration that is an integral plate having a centrally, downwardly projecting regular trapezoid, said trapezoid having inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward the upper surface of said plate, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the tape recorder, comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a high index of refractivity for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means having an upper surface that diffuses light and a side configuration that is an integral plate having a centrally, downwardly projecting regular trapezoid, said trapezoid having inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward the upper surface of said plate, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the tape recorder comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a light diffusing upper surface for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means being coated with an internally reflecting material so that light from said lamp is reflected out of said light ducting plastic glass means toward said splines and having a side configuration that is a regular trapezoid having parallel upper and lower sides and having inclined sides, said inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward said upper surface, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the tape recorder comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a light diffusing upper surface for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means being coated with an internally reflecting material so that light from said lamp is reflected out of said light ducting plastic glass means toward said splines and having a side configuration that is a regular trapezoid having parallel upper and lower sides and having inclined sides, said inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward said upper surface, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the tape recorder comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a light diffusing upper surface for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means being coated with an internally reflecting material so that light from said lamp is reflected toward said splines and having a side configuration that is an integral plate having a centrally, downwardly projecting regular trapezoid, said trapezoid having inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward the upper surface of said plate, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus mountable in a tape recorder for illuminating a cassette when the cassette is held in the tape recorder comprising a lamp and light ducting plastic glass means having a light diffusing upper surface for ducting light from said lamp toward the splines of said tape recorder, said light ducting plastic glass means being coated with an internally reflecting material so that light from said lamp is reflected toward said splines and having a side configuration that is an integral plate having a centrally, downwardly projecting regular trapezoid, said trapezoid having inclined sides adapted to reflect light toward the upper surface of said plate, said light ducting plastic glass means being mounted in said tape recorder beneath said cassette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB818082A
Cited
FR877343A
Cited
US2437239A
Cited
US2891141A
Cited
FR1191204A
Cited
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Cited
US3439919A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |